Cuba Returns to NORCECA Women's Volleyball Podium After 15 Years, Qualifies for World Championship

September 8, 2026

Cuba's women's national volleyball team defeated the Dominican Republic 3-0, by set scores of 26-24, 25-17 and 25-18, in the bronze medal match of the NORCECA Continental Championship, played on August 26, 2026, at the "Prof. Ricardo Gioriber Arias" Volleyball Palace in Santo Domingo. The win returned Cuba to a continental podium for the first time since 2011 — a 15-year absence — and secured the team a berth at the next World Championship.

Opposite hitter Yalain Regla de la Peña, 23, from Artemisa, led Cuba's attack with 17 points, all from spikes, and was named the tournament's Best Opposite. Laura Suárez added 13 points, while setter Gretell Moreno was recognized as Best Setter and Yanisleidis Sánchez earned both Best Libero and Best Defender honors.

The team, coached by Brazilian Luizomar de Moura since August 2025, dominated the decisive match statistically, outattacking the Dominicans 46-34 and outblocking them 11-7, with the match's only ace. "The team is growing technically, but even more importantly, strategically," De Moura said afterward.

The result gave Cuba its 23rd medal in the history of the continental championship and its third bronze, closing the tournament with a 4-2 record. Dominican coach Marcos Kwiek was blunt in defeat, calling his team's performance "a total disaster" and admitting "we played very, very poorly."